Sharjeel Imam, accused of inciting violence in Delhi, has received a big setback from the court. In the case of violence in Jamia Nagar in 2019, Delhi's Saket Court has framed charges against 11 people including Sharjeel Imam. At the same time, the court has acquitted 15 people including Shifa ur Rehman in this case. A Delhi court has described Sharjeel Imam as not only the 'instigator' but also the 'mastermind of a big conspiracy to incite violence' in the 2019 Jamia violence case.
Court framed charges in Delhi violence case
A Delhi court has said that Sharjeel Imam was not just an instigator but also the main accused in a larger conspiracy to spread violence in the 2019 Jamia violence case. The court has ordered framing of charges against him in this case. Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh said in his order that the speech given by Imam near Jamia University on 13 December 2019 was 'venomous' in which 'one religion was pitted against another religion'.
Said this on Sharjeel Imam
The court was hearing the case against Sharjeel Imam and other accused against whom an FIR was filed by the New Friends Colony police. In its order passed on March 7, the court said, "It is clear that the gathering of a large crowd and then large-scale rioting was not a sudden or spontaneous event. It was part of a larger conspiracy hatched by some leaders and instigators of the crowd, and later others joined in."
The court, while considering the argument of the prosecution, said that Imam had incited people in a speech on December 13, 2019. He had said that there is a large number of Muslims in many states of North India, yet why are they silent and why are they not blocking public roads (chakka jam). The court also said that Imam was a PhD student and he presented his words cleverly, in which he did not name other communities.
The court said, "In a big city like Delhi where there are a large number of seriously ill people who are going to the hospital for immediate treatment, Chakka Jam can worsen their condition. If they do not get timely treatment, they may even lose their lives, which can be a type of culpable homicide." The order also said that Chakka Jam is a violation of the rights to life and health of the people. However, even if the mob did not resort to violence or arson, it would still be like spreading violence by one part of the society against another part.
These allegations were made
The court said, "Accused Sharjeel Imam was not just the instigator but also the mastermind of a larger conspiracy to incite violence." Imam has been ordered to be charged under several sections of the IPC, including incitement, criminal conspiracy, spreading enmity between groups, rioting, unlawful assembly, attempt to commit culpable homicide, obstructing government work, causing mischief by fire or explosive substance and charges under the PDPP. Let us tell you that this case is related to the 2019-2020 protests that took place at Jamia Millia Islamia and Shaheen Bagh, after the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed in Parliament on December 11, 2019.
